Moscow has warned that more than 23,000 fighters from nearly 20 international militant groups are currently active in Afghanistan, posing a grave danger to both regional and global security. The estimate was revealed by Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu in a newly published article.
Writing in the state-run Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Shoigu highlighted ISIS-K as the most alarming faction, pointing to its military bases and training facilities across eastern, northern, and northeastern Afghanistan. He acknowledged that the Taliban are combating terrorism “to the best of their abilities” by targeting ISIS positions but argued that Western sanctions and political pressure have weakened their effectiveness.
Shoigu further alleged that foreign fighters have been funneled into Afghanistan from other regions, accusing Western intelligence agencies of deliberately orchestrating these movements to destabilize areas bordering Russia, China, and Iran.
Despite not recognizing the Taliban government, Western nations including the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom are showing signs of deeper engagement with Kabul. Shoigu suggested these countries are also exploring ways to reestablish military influence in Afghanistan after their withdrawal, warning that such maneuvers could further complicate an already fragile security landscape.
